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Peripubertal blood lead levels and growth among Russian boys

Jane S Burns1, Paige L Williams2, Mary M Lee3

  • 1Environmental and Occupational Medicine and Epidemiology Program, Department of Environmental Health, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, 665 Huntington Avenue, Boston, MA 02115, USA.

Environment International
|June 10, 2017
PubMed

Insights

Childhood blood lead levels (BLL) negatively impact adolescent growth. Higher BLL in boys was linked to shorter stature by age 18, indicating lead

Area of Science:

  • Environmental Health
  • Pediatric Growth and Development
  • Toxicology

Background:

  • Childhood blood lead levels (BLL) are recognized for their association with impaired growth.
  • Understanding the long-term effects of lead exposure on development is crucial for public health.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the relationship between peripubertal blood lead levels (BLL) and adolescent growth trajectories.
  • To assess the impact of BLL on near-adult height in a longitudinal cohort of Russian boys.

Main Methods:

  • A cohort of 481 Russian boys was followed annually from ages 8-9 to 18 years.
  • Mixed-effects models analyzed associations between BLL and height Z-scores (HT-Z), BMI Z-scores (BMI-Z), and height velocity (HV).
  • Covariate adjustments and interaction analyses were performed to evaluate age-specific effects of BLL on growth.

Main Results:

  • Boys with higher peripubertal BLL (≥5 μg/dL) were significantly shorter at age 18 (2.5cm difference, p<0.001).
  • The negative impact of BLL on height was most pronounced between ages 12 and 15.
  • Higher BLL was also associated with reduced BMI Z-scores, indicating leaner body composition.

Conclusions:

  • Elevated peripubertal blood lead levels are associated with persistent deficits in linear growth through adolescence.
  • Lead exposure during critical developmental periods can have lasting effects on stature.
  • Findings underscore the importance of minimizing lead exposure in children to support optimal growth.
Abstract

Keywords:
Body mass indexChildhood growthChildrenHeightLeadMetals

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